XIII.] METHOD OF CATCHING SELEUGIDES. 319 



These boats are wonderfully built, no nails of any kind being used 

 in their construction. Each plank is furnished with studs at 

 regular intervals, left in cutting it out of the tree. A hole is 

 bored through these, and cross thwarts and strong knees ha\Tiig 

 been fitted, the whole is tied together with coir rope. The result 

 is as strong a craft as can well be constructed, albeit somewhat 

 clumsy. 



Samati is unlike the ordinary type of Xew Guinea village. 

 Marks of Malay influence were visible in the shape of a small herd 

 of cattle pasturing near the shore, and many of the houses were built 

 on land. The Eajah's was among the number, and on the verandah 

 four chairs, a paraffine lamp, and a table covered wiXh. a red cloth 

 almost brought us within touch of civilisation. Cigars and rokos 

 were brought, and on inquiring about our hunters we learnt that 

 the Papuans we had asked the Eajah to employ had succeeded in 

 catching a live specimen of the Twelve -wired Bird of Paradise 

 (Scleucides), and were still away in the mountains in search of 

 others. The bird, a male in full plumage and already tolerably 

 tame, was brought in m its bamboo cage, and although we had 

 previously seen this species alive in the aviary of the Kesident of 

 Teruate, we could hardly keep our eyes off our new acquisition, so 

 striking was its beauty. 



The method employed by the natives in catching the Seleucides 

 appears almost incredible. Patiently searching the forest until he 

 has discovered the usual roosting -place of the bird, the hunter 

 conceals himself beneath the tree, and ha^'ing noted the exact 

 branch chosen, climbs up at night and quietly places a cloth over 

 his unsuspecting quarry. The species being exceedingly fond of 

 the scarlet fruit of the Pandanus, the roosting -places are easily 

 recognised by the dejecta. The plan would, perhaps, by most of us 

 be regarded as very similar to that counselled by our nurses, in 

 which a pinch of salt is the only requisite, but the noiseless move- 

 ments of the native hunters overcome all difficulties, and the tree 

 once discovered, the chances are said to be considerably against 



